imagine a better world productions, llc

Lon Van Eaton

Anyone who has worked with Lon Van Eaton meets an exuberant creative force of nature, a world class musical recording professional, as well as a person who cares about giving back. This combination fuels an engine that continually generates new energy, productions and products and changes the lives of people that join his journey.

Van Eaton's professional career in music productions has followed a lifelong desire to help not-for-profit organizations that benefit needy populations or causes. Mr. Van Eaton founded Imagine a Better World Productions, committed to “Changing Lives Through Music," in 1985.  The company philosophy of..."Being an entertainment company devoted to making conscious change through media" resulted in creating and producing non profit projects and events to benefit organizations like... National Jewish Hospital, The Leukemia Society of America, The Council of National Black Churches, Ronald McDonald House and more. Locally, his focus has been on productions that raise funds for supporting low income families as well as growing Stone Soup Records, for producing boutique projects designed for deserving charities.

Lon's special history includes being signed as a recording artist to The Beatles’ legendary Apple Records, in their 'heyday' and having had the rare privilege of being produced by George Harrison on the highly acclaimed Van Eaton album, Brother.

A multi-instrumentalist, guitar, mandolin, banjo, saxophone, clarinet, sitar, piano, programming  and vocalist, Lon Van Eaton's discography includes work with an impressive group of recording artists: Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Dr. John, Ben Vereen, Harry Nilsson, Carly Simon and Art Garfunkel, to name a few.

The progeny of a diverse musical family (Mother Southern Italy) sang opera and Father (Idaho) played country guitar, Lon's first music lessons began at age 4. His formal musical and artistic education started at Mercer County Community College, grew at the New School, then flew off to Berklee Conservatory of Music.  But the most significant flight, was the one to London in 1971 which began his sojourn with George Harrison and the Beatles at Apple Records and setting a new course for his life’s work.

"The Concert For Bangladesh” and Lon’s time spent with the Beatles made a lifelong impact on the young Van Eaton as to how the power of music and media can make a difference in the world.

Lon Van Eaton's Cause Related Production Credits include:

"Pulse of the Planet" featuring Stevie Wonder's music was produced to support environmental organizations in partnership with Turner Broadcasting (“TBS”) and CNN. It aired as part of the first ever environmental television series “EarthBeat”.  Stevie headlined a cast of socially conscious musical performers. After this work, Lon received a select invitation to join  Ted Turner’s Better World Society with Ted Turner, Robert Redford, Carl Sagan and Al Gore.

Developed and produced the “Give A Little Love” fundraising project for The Boy Scouts of America with Ben Vereen. It was introduced at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade by President Ronald Reagan on NBC-TV.  The “Give A Little Love” project was sold door to door by the more than 5 million Boy Scouts nationwide

“CHAMP - The Children and Music Project”
a project to raise funds to keep arts in education.

“The American Soviet Youth Orchestra World Tour”

The first classical cultural exchange between the countries initiated by President Reagan and Prime Minister Gorbachev. The PBS special “East Meets West in Music” a film about the project was the highest rated classical program on PBS ever.

Produced recording at Bolshoi Hall, Moscow, The Kennedy Center, Washington. D.C., The Lincoln Center, New York with Zubin Mehta, Leonid Nikolayev, Catherine Comet, and Leonard Slatkin conducting.

“KIDS, Inc. Kindness Is Doing Something” co-founder and board member of this non profit dedicated to the development of inner city children in Los Angeles.

Conceived, directed, developed, produced and funded: 

“Denver At The Apollo” a creative program using music, production, team cooperation and project management skills involving several hundred inner city youth per year over a period of three years.

Mr. Van Eaton continues his work, that was inspired by George Harrison at the Concert for Bangladesh. He conducts workshops, consults and produces recordings. Stone Soup Records and Reviews is a unique new recording label releasing he created to benefit non profit groups. Van Eaton's unique style and ear for sound has developed over decades in the music business, but remembering vividly his earliest years working around various Beatles being a songwriter is at the heart. He’s written over 500 songs and one from the “Black & White” album sums up his work, “Coming Back". The song recalls the experience of getting signed to Apple, the brothers' visit to Friar Park, etc. “Remember we were sitting around the breakfast table" say the lyrics, “How can we help a friend who's hurting without him knowing where it came from.”